From the blotter/Police calls and court cases, Feb. 12 to 19

Feb. 12

Niagara Falls police received a number of reports of overnight car break-ins and damaged vehicles.

In the 1500 block of LaSalle Avenue, a man said his mother-in-law’s car alarm went off at 2:45 a.m. and he saw a gray or silver minivan speeding away. He said the someone had broken a front passenger window to gain access to the 2009 Chevy Traverse and took a DVD player from the dash, five DVDS and a speaker box. Total loss and damage was $1,410.

In the 1800 block of Niagara Avenue, a 2000 Buick LaSabre had a passenger side vent window broken between 1 and 5 a.m. and a CD player was taken from the dash. Total loss and damage was $750.

Another man said his alarm went off at 5 a.m. in his 2000 Dodge Durango while parked in the 1700 block of Ferry Avenue. He said he went out to check but found nothing wrong. Later that morning he found that a small driver’s side rear window had been broken, but nothing was stolen. He told police he may have scared off the suspect.

A driver’s side rear window was also broken overnight on a 1999 GMC Yukon parked in the 1600 block of Eighth Street. The owner said the stereo, along with speakers and amp were stolen and the steering column was broken. Loss and damage $900.

In the 1300 block of LaSalle Avenue, an owner of a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox said between 4 p.m. Monday and noon on Tuesday someone tried to pry open the driver’s side window, cracking the window and damaging the door, but did not gain entry. A rear driver’s side window was found broken, but nothing was stolen. Damage was estimated at $600.

Another vehicle was damaged in the 200 block of 72nd Street. The owner told police that someone slashed the front driver’s side tire on her 1999 Volkswagen Jetta sometime between 8 p.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m. Damage was estimated at $200.

• Niagara County sheriff’s deputies investigating a call of drug activity stopped a man in the Town of Lockport who admitted he was carrying his own “personal tree” of marijuana.

Charges of fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana are pending against Michael Smith, no age available, of Chestnut Drive, who was found carrying suspected marijuana in his backpack at 8:45 p.m.

Deputies said they found Smith coming out of a shed on Chestnut Drive and could smell the strong odor of marijuana. Smith was wearing a backpack where deputies said Smith told them he was carrying his own personal tree of marijuana that he smokes.

Smith was released pending a lab report but was advised of pending charges, according to deputies. The case remains open for future, deputies said.

Feb. 13

Eric A. Nelson, 24, of Woodlawn Avenue, Niagara Falls, pleaded guilty in Niagara County Court to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony that could bring him up to four years in prison.

County Judge Sara Sheldon Farkas scheduled sentencing May 1 for Nelson, who was arrested when crack cocaine was seized during a May 17 police raid on the home of co-defendant Eddie L. Smith, 28, of 18th Street, Niagara Falls.

Charges are still pending against Smith, Assistant District Attorney Theresa L. Prezioso said.

• A man who took part in the Sept. 19 theft of a laptop computer from an apartment on South Street in Lockport avoided jail time.

In December, co-defendant Joseph J. Nicholson, 19, of Prospect Street, Lockport, pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary and was assigned to the judicial diversion program of court-supervised drug treatment. Each man was to repay the victim $700.

Feb. 15

Two television sets, cash and a wireless router were stolen between 11:45 a.m. and 4 p.m. from a house in the 400 block of 26th Street in Niagara Falls.

The resident told police that she was in City Court during that time. The items, which included $58 in cash, were gone when she returned home. She told police she suspects two people she knows who had access to the house. She said one was in court with her, because she had him arrested and said he had left court before she did. The total loss was $1,158.

• A Niagara Falls man was turned over to Town of Niagara police after being arrested on a pair of outstanding warrants.

Aldeaz M. Lewis, 24, was taken into custody just after 4 p.m. while walking near his 17th Street home, police said. He had been sought on warrants issued by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office for charges of endangering the welfare of a child and obstruction of breathing. No further details were available.

• A Newfane business owner told sheriff’s deputies that she suspects a former business associate of stealing various hand and power tools, as well as $1,000 worth of cash and checks, from her place of business.

The victim told deputies she had been renting space at her salon to a local man, who operated a barber shop out of the location. She said she had earlier received a text stating that he did not want to be in business with her any more. The following day, he moved out his property.

The owner told deputies she later found a door unlocked at the business, and inside noticed that property had been scattered about and a folder containing cash, checks and a zip drive holding business information, was missing. Also gone were various hand and power tools. In all, about $1,250 worth of property was missing, deputies said, and the victim indicated that her former associate may have been involved. An investigation is continuing.

• Tools and electronic items worth $1,200 were stolen from a Lindbergh Avenue garage – the second such break-in since October, Niagara Falls police said.

Police said a door to the garage was kicked in after Wednesday, and a variety of tools, two jack stands, an amplifier, compact disc player and speakers were stolen. During the first burglary, a set of tires was stolen, police added.